Excavating machine



Feb 2 1931. P. A. ORTON EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 sheets sheet 1 jive/a r fiilafl. 0562172,

Feb. 24, 1931. R RTON 1,793,507

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi 210 J? alzfan/ Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILO A. ORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ORTON CRANE & SHOVEL (30., OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA EXCAVATING MACHINE Application filed November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,495.

The invention relates to improvements in excavating machines of the type employing a swinging boom and a ditcher stick pivoted to the end thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of this character having improved means for effecting the dumping or discharging operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shifting lever connection with the ditcher stick, whereby the discharging operation is positively and forcibly performed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shifting lever connection for the ditcher stick, whereby an effective leverage is exerted on the dipper stick throughout its turning movement from retracted to extreme dumping position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the foregoing objects are attained by providing the ditcher stick at its top with a ,T-head having arms extending both inwardly and outwardly from the top of said ditcher stick. The inwardly extending arm is pivotally connected with the free or swinging end of the excavator boom and 1s also arranged to engage a stop thereon to limit the outward or discharging motion of the ditcher stick. A link is pivotally connected with the outer end of the outer arm of the T-head and is provided with a supporting projection arranged to rest upon the boom pivot when the ditcher stick is drawn inwardly. Said link carries a sheave o? pulley over which the hoisting line or cable operates. At its lower end the ditcher stick carries a rigid scoop operating to fill upon inward swinging of the ditcher stick and to discharge upon outward swinging thereof. The usual drag line or cable is connected with thisscoop.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a partial side view of an excavating machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the relative positions of the parts when the boom is elevated and just prior to the discharging operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in an intermediate position of the discharging operation, and.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts at the end of the disoharging operation.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a suitable body or support 1 mounted, as indicated, to swing or'rotate laterally on the usual caterpillar tractor 2, as indicated. The body 1 carries the usual upwardly swinging boom 3 pivoted at 4 on the body 1, said body being also provided with the usual cabin or housing 5. The construction already described is old and well known for the purpose, and constitutes no part of my present invention, except in so far as the same co-operates with other parts to be presently described.

A swinging ditcher stick 6 is pivotally mounted on the free or swinging end of the boom 3, said ditcher stick being provided at its lower end with any usual or desired form of scoop 7 connected to be operated by a drag line or cable 8 operated from suitable hoisting mechanism indicated at 9 on the body 1.

The scoop 7 is the usual scoop for the purpose, fillin in the usual way by" inward swinging o the ditcher stick 6, and discharging by outward swinging of said ditcher stick when the boom is elevated, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The drag line or cable 8, and the hoisting apparatus, indicated The inner end of said arm is. also arranged to contact with a stop-bar 12 traversing the lower edges of the boom channels, as shown, said arm and stop being arranged to engage when the ditcher stick 6 is in its extreme outermost position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. The outer arm of the T-head 10 is connected, at a point substantially horizontally opposite the pivot pin 11, when the ditcher stick hangs vertically, by a pivot pin 13 with a link 14 having a hoisting line sheave or pulley ,15 rotatably mounted at its free end. The hoisting pulley 15 is operatively connected in the usual way with the usual hoisting line or cable 16 connected with the hoisting apparatus on the body 1, in the usual way, to serve as a means for elevating the boom 3.

The link 14 is provided with additional pivot holes 14 for mounting the pulley 15, whereby the link may be shortened, if desired. The link 14 carries a central supporting projection 17, adapted and arranged to rest upon and slidably engages the pivot pin 11, as indicated in Fig. 3, when the ditcher stick 6 is drawn inwardly.

In operation the scoop 7 is filled with material in the usual way by lowering the boom 3 to bring the scoop into contact with the ground, as indicated in Fig. 1. The ditcher stick is then drawn inwardly by means of the drag line 8, the hoisting line 16 being simultaneously payed out. After the scoop has been filled with material by such inward movement of the ditcher stick, the boom is elevated and swung laterally in the usual way to discharging position, and the drag line 8 payed out to effect discharge of the material from the scoop. When the tension on the drag line is relieved, the-weight of and on the boom 3 is exerted through the pivot pin 11 to cause downward and outward swinging of the boom and corresponding upward and outward swinging of the ditcher stick. During the first part of this discharging movement the support 17 rests upon the pivot pin 11, the ditcher stick 6 swinging upwardly and outwardly about the pivot pin 11. However, as soon as the pivot pin 13 and the axis of the pulley 15 come into alignment with the line of draft of the hoisting cable, further outward swinging of the ditcher stick causes disengagement of the support 17 from the pivot pin 11, as indicated in Fig. 4, and number 14 thereupon becomes a link connecting the hoisting cable 16 with the T-head 10 at the point 13, the leverage tending to swing the ditcher stick outwardly being, atthe same time, shifted or transferred directly to said T-head, which then acts as a simple lever.

With the construction shown and described,

' it is obvious that the T-head 10 and links 14 will form a compound lever acting to swing the ditcher stick outwardly into dumping position and also providing for falling movement of the boom through an arc'corresponding to such swinging movement of the ditcher stick, when the drag line is released.

Thus, by properly proportioning the leverages, it is obvious that, under contemplated working conditions, the scoop can be dumped from any position by merely releasing the drag line, whereupon further outward swinging movement of the ditcher stick is effected by the weight of and the load on the boom applied at the pivot 11, acting to turn the T-head 10 about its pivot 13 which is now anchored by the cable 16 and link 14, the re-- lation being such that an effective leverage will at all times be exerted on said ditcher stick from retracted to full dumping position.

When the ditcher stick reaches the limit of its outward swing, as indicated in Fig. 5, the inner end of the inner arm of the T-head 10 comes in contact With the stop 12 to limit such outward swing and, if the cable 8 is payed out with suflicient speed, such stopping contact maybe effected with considerable shock or jar, thus tending to loosen and discharge the material from the scoop 7.

It will be observed that at the time of discharge of the scoop 7, when the parts are in noted that the pivotpins 11 and 13 are on op-' posite sides of the ditcher stick 6 and are substantially directly opposite each other so that, when the ditcher stick is extended outwardly, as in Fig. 5, the pin 13 is well above, and a little outside the vertical through pin 11. This insures an effective leverage on the ditcher stick as it raises in discharging and particularly at the final discharging position.

The specific details and arrangement of parts disclosed constitutes a simple and effective one for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying the invention into effect, this iscapable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the appended claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desired toavail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination withthe swingingboom of 'an excavating machine, of a ditcherstick having a T-head at its upper end projecting laterally from each side thereof: a pivotal connection between one arm of said T-head and said boom; a hoisting cable operatively connected with the other arm of said T-head at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick; and a drag cable for operating said scoop.

2. The combination with the swinging boom of an excavating machine, of a ditcher stick having a T-head at its upper end projecting laterally from each side thereof; a pivotal connection between one arm of said T- head and said boom; a link pivotally connected at one end with the other arm of said T-head at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a sheave at the other end of said link; a hoisting cable operating over said sheave; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick; and a drag cable for operatingsaid scoop.

3. The combination with the swinging boom of an excavating machine, of a ditcher stick having a T-head at its upper end projecting laterally from each side thereof; a pivotal connection between the inner arm of said T-head and said boom; a link pivotally connected at one end with the outer arm of said T-head at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a sheave at the other end of said link; a hoisting cable operating over said sheave; a support on said link arranged to rest upon the pivot connection with the boom when said boom is being elevated; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick; and a drag cable for operating said scoop.

4. In combination, a swinging boom bifurcated at its upper end; a pivot pin traversing the bifurcation in said boom; a ditcher stick having a T-head at its upper end projecting laterally from each side thereof, the inwardly extending arm of said T-headbeing pivotally mounted on said pivot pin; a link pivotally connected atone end with the outer arm of said T-head at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a sheave at the other end of said link; a hoisting-cable operating over said sheave; a supporting projection on said link intermediate its ends and arranged to rest upon said pivot pin when said boom is being elevated; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick; and a drag cable for operating said scoop.

5. In combination, a swinging boom; a ditcher stick; a pivotal connection between said ditcher stick and boom located on the inner side of said ditcher stick; a link having a pivotal connection with said ditcher stick located on the outer side of said ditcher stick at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vera 'pivotal connection with the outer end of said arm at a point substantially horizontally opposite said rst pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a support on said link arranged to rest upon the pivotal connection with the boom; a hoisting cable connected with the inner end of said link; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick; and a drag cable connected with said scoop.

- 7. In combination, a swinging boom; :1 ditcher stick pivoted to said boom; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick arranged to fill by inward swinging of said ditcher stick and dump upon outward swinging thereof; a drag cable connected to cause inward swinging of said ditcher stick; an arm on said ditcher stick projecting from the side thereof opposite said boom; a link pivotally connected at one end with said arm at a point substantial-1y horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a support on said link resting on the boom pivot when said scoop is drawn inwardly; a sheave at the other end of said link; and a hoisting cable connecting with said sheave.

8. In combination, a swinging boom; a ditcher stick pivoted to said boom; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick arranged to fill by inward swinging of said ditcher stick and dump upon outward swinging thereof; a drag cable connected to cause inward swinging of said ditcher stickan arm on said ditcher stick project-ing mm the side thereof opposite said boom; a link pivotally connected at one end with said arm at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs vertically; a support on said link resting on the boom pivot when said scoop is drawn inwardly; a sheave at the other end of said link; a hoisting cable connected with said sheave; and a stop on the boom'limiting outward swinging of said ditcher stick.

9. In combination, a swinging boom having' a bifurcated upper end; a pivot pin traversing said bifurcation; a ditcher stick; a T-head at the upper end of said ditcher stick, the arms of said T-head projecting inwardly and outwardly therefrom; a pivotal connection between said inwardly projecting arm and said boom pivot ;a scoop at the lower end of-said ditcher stick arranged to fill by inward swinging of said ditcher stick and dump upon outward swinging thereof; a drag cable connected to cause inward swinging of said ditcher stick; a link pivotally connected at one end with said outwardly projecting arm on said ditcher stick at a point substantially horizontally opposite said first pivot when said stick hangs Vertically a support on said link resting on said boom pivot when said scoop is drawn inwardly; a sheave at the other end of said link; a hoisting cable connected with said sheave; and a stop on said I boom engaging the inwardly extending arm on said ditcher stick to limit the outward swinging of the ditcher stick.

10. In combination, a swinging boom'; a ditcher stick pivoted at its inner side to said boom; a hoisting cable operatively connected with the outer side of said ditcher stick at a point substantially horizontally opposite thepivot on the boom when said ditcher stick hangs vertically; a scoop on said ditcher stick; and means for operating said scoop.

11. In combination, a swinging boom; a ditcher stick provided at its upper end with inwardly and outwardly projecting arms; a pivotal connection between said inwardly projecting arm and said boom; a hoisting cable connected with said outwardly projecting arm at a point substantially horizontally opposite the pivot on the boom when said ditcher stick hangs vertical; a scoop at the lower end of said ditcher stick; and means.

for operating said scoop.

'12. The combination of a boom pivoted to swing vertically, a ditcher stick having a T- head at its upper end which projects laterally at both sides thereof, pivotal connection between one arm of said T-head and said boom, j a link pivoted to the other arm of -said 'T- head, a projection on said link which rests on and slidably engages the pin which piv-. otally connects said T-head to the boom, a sheave rotatably mounted at the free end of said link and an operating and anchoring cable adjusted to said sheave, the relation being such that when the scoop is retracted, the

point of pivotal attachment of the link to the T-head will be in front of the pivot connecting said T-head to the boom and in dumping position of the scoop will be above said pivot whereby the weight of the boom and the load sustained thereby will exert an effective leverage on the ditcher stick throughout its turning movement to dumping position.

13. The combination as specified in claim 12, which also comprises a stop which limits turning movement of the ditcher stick out wardly.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 22d day of November, A; D. 1927. PHILO A. ORTON. 

